Connector for vehicle effectively removing or reducing noise and providing secure connection

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0107773 filed Nov. 9, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

(a) Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a connector for a vehicle, which can effectively remove or reduce noise and provide secure connection.

(b) Background Art

Typically, a condenser is connected to an engine and a chassis of a vehicle to remove fault current as an unnecessary current which is not grounded, thus removing noise of the vehicle.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> shows a prior art condenser <b>32</b> for use in a vehicle. The vehicle condenser <b>32</b> includes an epoxy resin <b>20</b> filled in the inside of the condenser <b>32</b>, a terminal <b>12</b> having a terminal hole <b>14</b>, and a connection unit <b>18</b> formed at an end of a terminal wire <b>16</b> and having a ring shape.

As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref>, the connection unit <b>18</b> is secured to a bolt <b>24</b> fixed to a lower portion of a vehicle engine <b>26</b> and then a nut <b>22</b> is tightened on the bolt <b>24</b> such that the terminal wire <b>16</b> of the condenser <b>10</b> is connected to the engine <b>26</b>.

Moreover, the terminal <b>12</b> is fixed to a chassis (not shown) located at the side of the engine <b>26</b> through the terminal hole <b>14</b> by a fixing means.

Therefore, the condenser <b>32</b> fixed to the engine and the chassis serves to eliminate the fault current (unnecessary current) of the vehicle.

In order for the condenser to exhibit its maximum performance, it is more effective to install the condenser at a position at or near a noise source. However, it is not easy to install it at such a position due to limitations on the layout of the vehicle.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect, the present invention provides a connector for use in a vehicle, which can provide secure connection and remove/reduce noise. The connector according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a female connector, a male connector, a connector cover. The female connector includes an operating lever as a locking and unlocking means. The male connector is configured to be inserted into the female connector and connected to the female connector by the locking means. The connector cover is mounted on the circumferential surface of the female connector for maintaining the connected state of the female connector and the male connector. In addition, the connector cover is molded with ferrite powder, which helps to remove or reduce noise.

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

The above and other features of the invention are discussed infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof illustrated the accompanying drawings which are given hereinbelow by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is an exploded perspective of a female connector and a connector cover in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is an assembled perspective view of the female connector and connector cover of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective view of the female connector of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a perspective view of the connector cover of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a front view of the connector cover of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a front view of the assembled female connector and connector cover of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a perspective view showing a state before a male connector is inserted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a perspective view showing a state after the male connector is inserted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a perspective view showing a state in which the connector cover is moved backward in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is a cross-sectional view of the state of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is a perspective view of a prior art engine condenser; and

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> is a schematic diagram showing a connected state of the prior art engine condenser and an engine.

Reference numerals set forth in the Drawings includes reference to the following elements as further discussed below:

<tables id="TABLE-US-00001" num="00001"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="3"><colspec colname="1" colwidth="14pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="91pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="3" colwidth="112pt" align="left" /><thead><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry /><entry>100: female connector</entry><entry>100a; terminal receiving portion</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>101: housing</entry><entry>102: projection</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>103: first guide groove</entry><entry>104: second guide groove</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>105: first locking projection</entry><entry>106: second locking projection</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>107: operating lever</entry><entry>108: fulcrum</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>108a: locking projection</entry><entry>109: inner seal</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>110: front holder</entry><entry>111: connector cover</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>112: body</entry><entry>113: projection receiving portion</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>114: first through hole</entry><entry>115: second through hole</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>116: receiving groove</entry><entry>117: lever locking guide</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>118: cut projection</entry><entry>119: male connector</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>120: housing</entry><entry>121: locking projection</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>122: guide rail</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a female connector <b>100</b>, a male connector <b>119</b>, and a connector cover <b>111</b> for protecting and maintaining the connected state of the female connector <b>100</b> and the male connector <b>119</b>.

The female connector <b>100</b> includes a terminal receiving portion <b>100</b><i>a </i>into which a plurality of terminals for transmitting and receiving signals are inserted and a housing <b>101</b> which is formed in an oval shape and surrounds the circumference of the terminal receiving portion <b>100</b><i>a. </i>

The housing <b>101</b> includes a large diameter portion formed at the front thereof, in which the terminal receiving portion <b>100</b><i>a </i>is disposed in the inner portion thereof, and a small diameter portion formed at the rear portion thereof.

A rectangular projection <b>102</b> is formed on an upper end of the large diameter portion of the housing <b>101</b>, a first guide groove <b>103</b> is formed on an upper wall of the projection <b>102</b> in the forward and backward direction, and a pair of second guide grooves <b>104</b> are formed on both side walls of the projection <b>102</b> in the forward and backward direction.

Here, the first guide groove <b>103</b> and the pair of second guide grooves <b>104</b> are arranged in parallel to each other. The first guide groove <b>103</b> guides the insertion of the connector cover <b>111</b> into the female connector <b>100</b> in the forward direction, and the second guide grooves <b>104</b> control the connector cover <b>111</b> to be pre-mounted on the female connector <b>100</b>.

Moreover, a first locking projection <b>105</b> is formed at the rear of the first guide groove <b>103</b> on the upper surface of the projection <b>102</b>, and a pair of second locking projections <b>106</b> are formed on both sides of the upper surface of the projection <b>102</b> in the width direction with the first guide groove <b>103</b> interposed therebetween.

Here, the first locking projection <b>105</b> and the pair of second locking projections <b>106</b> are arranged to form the apex of a triangle.

The housing <b>101</b> includes an operating lever <b>107</b> such that a user can push the operating lever <b>107</b> by hand to lock and unlock the female connector <b>100</b> and the male connector <b>119</b>.

The operating lever <b>107</b> is horizontally disposed over the large and small diameter portions of the housing <b>101</b> in the forward and backward direction. The front portion of the operating lever <b>107</b>, at which a locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>is provided, and the rear portion thereof, which is able to be pushed by hand, are configured to perform a seesaw motion with respect to a fulcrum <b>108</b> in the middle thereof.

The locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>at the front bottom of the operating lever <b>107</b> is used to maintain the connected state of the male connector <b>119</b> and the female connector <b>100</b>.

An inner seal <b>109</b> of a flexible material (e.g., rubber) is inserted into the inside of the housing <b>101</b> to surround a portion of the terminal receiving portion <b>100</b><i>a </i>and maintain airtightness, and a front holder <b>110</b> is inserted between the bottom of the terminal receiving portion <b>100</b><i>a </i>and the bottom of the inner seal <b>109</b> to maintain the shape of the inner seal <b>109</b>.

Here, the connector cover <b>111</b> is molded with ferrite powder, which is effective for removal of noise, and provided adjacent to the connector, a main source of noise. Therefore, the connector cover <b>111</b> can effectively remove/reduce the noise of the vehicle and further protect the connector from an external impact.

The connector cover <b>111</b> is mounted on the female connector <b>100</b> to surround the outer circumferential surface of the housing <b>101</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> and includes a body <b>112</b> for surrounding the circumferential surface of the large diameter portion of the housing <b>101</b> and a rectangular projection receiving portion <b>113</b> integrally formed on the top of the body <b>112</b> and surrounding the circumferential surface of the projection <b>102</b> of the housing <b>101</b>.

A first through hole <b>114</b> is formed on the upper surface of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> such that the first locking projection <b>105</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> is inserted and fixed thereto, and thereby it is possible to determine the mounting position of the connector cover <b>111</b>.

A pair of second through holes <b>115</b> are formed in parallel to each other in the forward and backward direction with the first through hole <b>114</b> interposed therebetween to guide the movement of the connector cover <b>111</b> and prevent the connector cover <b>111</b> from being moved backward from the female connector <b>100</b>.

Here, the first through hole <b>114</b> is formed to penetrate the upper surface of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> with a size that can accommodate the first locking projection <b>105</b>, and the second through holes <b>115</b> are formed to extend in the forward and backward direction such that the second locking projections <b>106</b> move within a predetermined distance in the forward and backward direction.

Moreover, a receiving groove <b>116</b> is formed in the inside of the upper end of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> at the rear of the first through hole <b>114</b> and the second through holes <b>115</b> such that the first locking projection <b>105</b> and the second locking projections <b>106</b> can move therethrough.

A lever locking guide <b>117</b> is formed downward in the inside of the front end of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> to be inserted into the first guide groove <b>103</b> when the connector cover <b>111</b> is pre-mounted on the housing <b>101</b> of the female connector <b>100</b>. When the connector cover <b>111</b> is completely mounted on the female connector <b>100</b> as the lever locking guide <b>117</b> moves forward to the end of the first guide groove <b>103</b>, the operating lever <b>107</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> cannot perform a seesaw motion and thereby the locked state of the female connector <b>100</b> and the male connector <b>119</b> is maintained.

A pair of cut projections <b>118</b> are formed on both side walls of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> in the forward and backward direction, in which the front end of each cut projection <b>118</b> is integrally connected to the front end of the side wall of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> and the remaining portion of the cut projection <b>118</b> is cut along the middle of the side wall of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> in the forward and backward direction. Therefore, the cut projections <b>118</b> are elastically supported with respect to the front end thereof to be rotated or bent inward in the width direction of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> such that the cut projections <b>118</b> are inserted into the second guide grooves <b>104</b> when the connector cover <b>111</b> is mounted on the housing <b>101</b> of the female connector <b>100</b>.

The male connector <b>119</b> is inserted into the inside of the housing <b>101</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> and electrically connected to the female connector <b>100</b> such that the male and female connectors <b>119</b> and <b>100</b> can transmit and receive signals to and from each other.

A locking projection <b>121</b> is formed on an upper end of a housing <b>120</b> of the male connector <b>119</b>. The locking projection <b>121</b> of the male connector <b>119</b> is connected to the locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>formed on the operating lever <b>107</b> of the female connector <b>100</b>, and thereby the connected state of the male connector <b>119</b> and the female connector <b>100</b> can be maintained.

Moreover, a pair of guide rails <b>122</b> are formed in parallel to each other on an upper end of the housing <b>120</b> of the male connector <b>119</b>. The guide rails <b>122</b> having a cross section of “<img id="CUSTOM-CHARACTER-00001" he="2.12mm" wi="1.78mm" file="US07988482-20110802-P00001.TIF" alt="custom character" img-content="character" img-format="tif" />” shape are inserted along the second guide grooves <b>104</b> formed on the projection <b>102</b> of the housing <b>101</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> such that the housing <b>120</b> of the male connector <b>119</b> is inserted into the inside of the housing <b>101</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> and connected thereto.

The use of the connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described below.

First, the connector cover <b>111</b> is inserted into the outer circumferential surface of the female connector <b>100</b> to be pre-mounted thereto.

Here, a pre-mounting means for causing the connector cover <b>111</b> to be pre-mounted on the female connector <b>100</b> before the male connector <b>119</b> is inserted into the female connector <b>100</b> includes the second guide grooves <b>104</b> formed on both side walls of the projection <b>102</b> of the female connector <b>100</b>, the second locking projections <b>106</b> formed to project from the upper end of the projection <b>102</b> of the female connector <b>100</b>, the cut projections <b>118</b> formed on both side walls of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> of the connector cover <b>111</b>, and the second through holes <b>115</b> formed on the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> of the connector cover <b>111</b>. Therefore, when the connector cover <b>111</b> is inserted into the outer circumferential surface of the female connector <b>100</b>, the cut projections <b>118</b> are inserted into the second guide grooves <b>104</b> and stopped at the inner end of the second guide grooves <b>104</b> to prevent the connector cover <b>111</b> from further moving forward. Moreover, as the second locking projections <b>106</b> are inserted into the front ends of the second through holes <b>115</b>, the connector cover <b>111</b> is prevented from moving backward.

Then, when the connector cover <b>111</b> is pre-mounted on the female connector <b>100</b>, the male connector <b>119</b> is inserted and connected to the female connector <b>100</b>.

A means for causing the male connector <b>119</b> to be inserted into the female connector <b>100</b> includes the guide rails <b>122</b> formed on the housing <b>120</b> of the male connector <b>119</b>. When the guide rails <b>122</b> are inserted into the second guide grooves <b>104</b> of the female connector <b>100</b>, the cut projections <b>118</b> of the connector cover <b>111</b> are pushed to the outside of the second guide grooves <b>104</b> such that the male connector <b>119</b> is inserted into the female connector <b>100</b>.

A means for connecting and disconnecting the female connector <b>100</b> and the male connector <b>119</b> includes the operating lever <b>107</b> formed horizontally on the female connector <b>100</b>, in which the front portion of the operating lever <b>107</b>, at which the locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>is provided, and the rear portion thereof, which is able to be pushed by hand, perform a seesaw motion with respect to the fulcrum <b>108</b> in the middle thereof, and the locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>formed on the housing <b>120</b> of the male connector <b>119</b>. When the male connector <b>119</b> is inserted into the inside of the female connector <b>100</b>, the locking projection <b>121</b> of the male connector <b>119</b> raises the locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>of the operating lever <b>107</b> by the seesaw motion and then is connected to the locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>and, when the rear portion of the operating lever <b>107</b> is pushed, the front portion of the operating lever <b>107</b> is raised and then unlocked from the locking projection <b>121</b> of the male connector <b>119</b>.

Then, the connector cover <b>111</b> is further moved forward to the female connector <b>100</b> to be double locked such that the connected state of the female connector <b>100</b> and the male connector <b>119</b> is maintained.

A means for maintaining the connected state of the locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>of the female connector <b>100</b> and the locking projection <b>121</b> of the male connector <b>119</b> and double locking the connected male and female connectors <b>119</b> and <b>100</b> includes the lever locking guide <b>117</b> formed on the upper end of the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> of the connector cover <b>111</b> and the first guide groove <b>103</b> formed on the upper end of the projection <b>102</b> of the female connector <b>100</b>. When the connector cover <b>111</b> is moved forward as the cut projections <b>118</b> of the connector cover <b>111</b> are pushed to the outside of the second guide grooves <b>104</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> by the guide rails <b>122</b> of the male connector <b>119</b>, the second locking projections <b>106</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> move along the second through holes <b>115</b> of the connector cover <b>111</b> to be positioned at the rear end of the second through holes <b>115</b>. When the lever locking guide <b>117</b> moves forward along the first guide grove <b>103</b> to reach the inner end of first guide groove <b>103</b>, the connector cover <b>111</b> does not move any further, and when the front portion of the operating lever <b>107</b> is positioned adjacent to the bottom of the lever locking guide <b>107</b>, the operating lever <b>107</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> cannot perform a seesaw motion. As a result, the locking projection <b>121</b> of the male connector <b>119</b> cannot move backward by the locking projection <b>108</b><i>a </i>of the operating lever <b>107</b>.

The position at which the connector cover <b>111</b> is mounted on the female connector <b>100</b> is determined by moving forward the connector cover <b>111</b> to the female connector <b>100</b>.

When the connector cover <b>111</b> is moved forward, the first locking projection <b>105</b> formed on the projection <b>102</b> of the female connector <b>100</b> is inserted into the first through hole <b>114</b> formed on the projection receiving portion <b>113</b> of the connector cover <b>111</b>, and thereby the user can determine the mounting position of the connector cover <b>111</b>.

When the male connector <b>119</b> is connected to the female connector <b>100</b> in the above-described manner, the connector cover <b>111</b> can protect the connected state of the connector and further remove/reduce the electrical noise of the vehicle.

As described above, the connector in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages:

(1) Since the connector cover is molded with ferrite powder and installed adjacent to a noise source of the vehicle, it is possible to effectively remove/reduce the electrical noise;

(2) The female connector can be connected to and disconnected from the male connector using the operating lever; and

(3) The connector cover is movably mounted on the circumferential surface of the female connector in the forward and backward direction such that when the connector cover moves backward, the operation of the operating lever is stopped by the lever locking guide to main the connected state of the female connector and the male connector and, when the connector cover moves forward, the female connector can be disconnected from the male connector by the operation of the operating lever.

The invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.